Pneumatic or bellows for musical instruments.



Nb. 670,700. Patented Har 26, I90I.

T. P. BRUWN.

PNEUIATICY 0R BELLUWS FDR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

'Applicn'cm and me. 2e. 1900.)

(numl.)

xii@- Headoefowiz.

UNrTnD STATES THEODORE PARKER BROWN, OF

PATENT WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

PNEUMATIC OR BELLOWS FOR MUSlCAl.. ENSTRUIVIENTS.,

SPLEGIFIATIQN forming` part of Letters Patent No. 670,700, dated March 26, 1901.

Application filed December 28, 1900y Serial No. 41.410. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.t

Be it known that I, THEODORE PARKER EROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of .'Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Pneumatics or Bellows for Musical lnstrumen's; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in pneumatics or bellows for musical instruments, and more particularly to operating-pneu matics for selfplaying musical instruments.

It is well known to those versed in the art that pneumatics as ordinarily constructed make a snapping noise resembling somewhat the cracking of a whip Whenever the air is admitted or thrown into them, which noise is due to the quick straightening outor expanding of the folded portion or portions of the flexible leather of the pneumatic during its movement from a collapsed to an expanded position. This noise is very objectionable, as will be obvious, and is often so loud as to be heard above the tones of the sounding devices, and hence detracts materially from the harmony and tone of the musical instrument.

lt is the purpose of the present invention to entirely overcome the above-noted objection and to materially improve the functions and working of the pneumatics and make the same more durable.

Briefly stated, the invention consists in stiffening the leather of the pneumatic at the free surfaces thereof without impairing their flexibility or readiness to fold or work, said stiffening being accomplished by applying to the surfaces of the leather ou opposite sides of or slightly removed from the central folding-line a suitable stiffening medium-such, for instance, as glue, paint, shellac, varnish, or some other suitable quick-drying liquid substance or other material.

In order to enable others to understand, make, and use my invention, l will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference ben ing had for this purpose tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of an operating-pneumatic embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of a pneumatic, showing` the stilfening material applied to the leather.

In the drawings is illustrated an ordinary form of operating-pneumatic such as is now generally employed in connection with selfplaying musical instruments, and in said drawings the reference-numeral l designates the lower or stationary board of the pneumatic, and 2 the upper or movable board, while the numeral 3 designates the usual bellows portion usually composed of folded leather or rubber-coated fabric that is secured to the sides and end of the upper and lower boards of the pneumatic, said leather or rubber-coated fabric being` arranged to fold on a central line e.

As ordinarily constructed a pneumatic, as above described, makes a snapping or cracking noise when air is thrown thereinto, which is due to t-he quick straightening-out move` ment of the folded portions of the vflexible leather of the pneumatic, and it is this objectionable noise that l seek to overcome. In accomplishing this object I apply to the surface of the leather 3 both on the end and on the sides a stilfening agent or medium 5, said stiffening agent or medium being applied over the entire surface of the leather except at the central portions thereof, where the folding takes place-as, for instance, at the central line e, as clearly shown in the drawings. This stiffening agent or medium is by preference, owing` to its ease of application, composed of some quick-drying liquid substance, such as glue, paint, shellac, varnish, or other suitable substance or material. The stilfening agent or medium permeates the leather and renders the same stiff at all points except at the lines of folding, which latter remain in their natural flexible state, and thus admit of a free and u nim paired working of the pneumatic.

l do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific stiffening agents ormediums herein set forth, for it will be obvious IOO that any substance or material may be einployed that will render the surface of the leatherl more or less inflexible or stiff except at the points `indicated.

ln the drawings I have shown the stiffening agent as applied to the outer surfaces of the pneumatic; but it may be applied on the inner surface, if desired. l have also shown the stiftening agent applied to the sides and also to the end of the t'oldable portions of the pneumatic; but I Wish it understood that I may omit the application of said agent to the sides and apply it to the end only at the points indica-ted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l. A pneumatic having the foldable portion thereof formed ot' flexible material, said material being stii'lened on opposite sides of a folding-line.

2. A pneu matic having the foldable portion thereof formed of flexible material, said maY terial being coated with a stiffening agent or medium on opposite sides of the folding-line.

3. A pneumatic having the Foldable portion thereof coated with a liqnidstii'lening agent or composition, said agent being applied to the surface of the bellows on opposite sides of the folding-line.

4. A pneumatic having the flexible i'olding portions thereof coated with a liquid stiften ing agent, said agent being applied to the surface of the said folding portions on opposite sides of the lines of fold, said lines being nncoated.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

THEODORE PARKER B RO W N.

Wvitnesses:

A. J. SAYLEs, ARTHUR E. Davis. 

